Tonbridge and Malling

Tonbridge and Malling's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and work life.

The population passed 120,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Tonbridge and Malling increased by 12%, from just under 108,000 to 121,000.

The addition of about 13,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Tonbridge and Malling was home to, on average, 3.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Tonbridge and Malling

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Tonbridge and Malling increased by three years, from 38 to 41 years.

This growing rural area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 4,400 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 16% of people in Tonbridge and Malling are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Tonbridge and Malling by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Tonbridge and Malling

The percentage of Tonbridge and Malling residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.2% to 3.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The proportion who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.8%, while the percentage of Tonbridge and Malling residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 91% to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Tonbridge and Malling

The number of people in Tonbridge and Malling that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 16,000 in 2001 to about 33,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 27% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Tonbridge and Malling that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 82,000 in 2001 to about 77,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 8,400 to about 8,500. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 7.8% to 7.0%.

About 750 people (0.3%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 330 in 2001 (0.6%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Tonbridge and Malling increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Tonbridge and Malling by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Tonbridge and Malling, but at a slower rate than in nearby Thurrock.

In Tonbridge and Malling, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.0% in 2001 to 10% in 2011. During the same period, the

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Tonbridge and Malling remained close to 16%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 75% to 71%.

Private renting in Tonbridge and Malling increased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Tonbridge and Malling, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Tonbridge and Malling working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 13% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Tonbridge and Malling decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Tonbridge and Malling, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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